Tie rod for concrete forms



June 22, 1937. s s COLT 2,084,384

TIE ROD FOR CONCRETE FORMS Filed NOV. 28, 1954 INVENTOR www (blz,

ATTORNEY Patented June 22, 1937 4Unire ?ATN'E OFFICE 2 claims. (o1.25-131y Il'his invention has for its object to provide a novel methodand means for mounting tie-rods in form wall assembling and holdingrelation, subject to loosening of such tie-rods for withdrawal fromconcrete cast in the form,whereby, upon dismantling of the form, suchtie-rods may be quickly and easily withdrawn from the finished concrete,and thus salvaged, together with all associated form building andassembling material, for repeated use.

In the method of constructing, assembling and disassembling of concretecasting forms, of the type comprising opposed and spaced form wallssecured in position by tie-rods extending therebetween and therethrough,as heretofore practiced, the outwardly projecting end portions of thetie-rods have been utilized to support external form retaining andlocking devices. Ovving to the nature of these devices, the tie-rodscould in no way be loosened relative to the concrete cast in the formbefore dismantling said form, and consequently the tie-rods would be soset, and bound in and to the concrete mass that it is often impossibleto withdraw the same g from the concrete after the form was taken down.In such case, the ends or" the tie-rods would have to be broken orsevered at the surface of the concrete, thus preventing salvage of thetie-rods. Another diiculty experienced under the old practices, was thatthe projecting ends of the tie-rods would be so bent and distorted thatwithdrawal of the same from the finished wallsrwould be so obstructed asto very greatly increase the labor of extraction, if not altogetherpreventing such extraction. Attempts to overcome these difficulties haveresulted in a practice involving the provision of sectional tierods, i.e. tie-rods having exteriorly projecting end pieces Which weredetachably coupled to an intermediate tie-rod `section disposed whollywithin the form interior, whereby, on dismantling the form, such endpieces could be removed, leaving the main section of the tierod imbeddedin the iinished concrete wall, and therefore incapable of recovery forreuse. This latter practice, of course, is expensive, and involves avery considerable Waste of material in the form of such non-recoverabletie-rod sections.

Having the difficulties and disadvantages of the above-mentionedpractices in mind, my present invention wasmconceived with a view ofovercoming the same by providing a novel method and means for somounting and manipulating the tie-rods, that the same can be rotatedabout their longitudinal axes while the concrete cast in the form isstill somewhat green, i.v e. not finally set and hardened, and While theform is still retained in operative assembled supporting relation to theconcrete cast therein. Such turning of the tie-rods under suchconditions operates to loosen the same from the concrete mass, thusfreeing the same from adhesion thereto, whereby, when the concrete hasultimately cured to final hardened condition, resistance to longitudinalwithdrawal of the tie-rods therefrom isY substantially avoided, so thatextraction thereof is Wholly practicable, with the result that tierodsare easily recovered Aor salvaged so as to be again available forfurther use, Not only is this so, but, furthermore, by the novel methodand means involvedV in my present invention, single piece tie-rods maybe utilized, thus eliminating the cost of Vcoupling devices Yand likeparts necessary to sectional types of tie-rods and consequentlyeffecting further economy; and finally by the novel method and meanscomprising my present invention, the labor of erecting and dismantlingforms is considerably decreased, and these operations can be effectedmuch more rapidly and economically.

In the accompanying drawing, means areshown whereby one-piece tie-rodsmay be mounted and manipulated subject to salvage from the cast concreteafter dismantling the form structure of which they are a part, al1pursuant toy a novel method of procedure in accordance with thisinvention.

In said drawing; Fig. l shows a fragmentaryL transverse vertical sectionof a concrete casting form structure utilizing one-piece tie-rodsequipped with form wall retaining means so as to be subject tomanipulation in accordance with this invention, the retaining meansbeing shown in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a similar view with theretaining means shown in section; Fig. 3 is an end View, Viewed fromleft to right in Fig. 1. Fig. l is a side elevation, Fig. 5 an endelevation and Fig. 6 a top plan view of a modified form of retainingmeans adapted tothe manipulation of the tie-rod in accordance with thisinvention. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a modified form of retainingmeans including a locking Wedge in permanent coupled relation thereto.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above describedviews, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawing, the reference characters Ill and Ilrespectively indicate laterally opposed walls of a form, each beingrespectively provided on their exterior sides with vertical battens I2andY I2 over which are arranged pairs of horizontally extending walersI3 and I3'.

Extending between the. walers I3 and through the form wall Ill-thenceacross the form interiorv to and through the form' wall II,`to projectoutwardly betweenthe VWalers I3 associated with the latter wall, is acontinuous or'one-piece tie- MountedY on the end portion I4' of saidtie-rod I4, which projects Vexteriorly from'the'formfwall` Ill, Vis anovel retaining means comprising an abutment plate I5, which may be ofany suitable peripheral shape. but which is shown here as" YofrectangularV form.` 'Ihis abutment plate I5 is appliedin bridgingYrelation to the walers YI3 n and over the exterior faces thereof. e Theabutment plate I5 is provided on its front face with a centrallydisposed boss or hub I5, having there- 'in' an axially disposedsubstantially,semi-spherical countersunksocket or seat 'I'I, from thebot-` tom of whichextends through Ythe back of the abutment plate anopening I8, whereby the projecting endsportion of the tie-rod I4 maybe'extended outwardly'through said opening I8 andV socket'orY seat I'I.VNail openings I9 are provided at suitable locations inthe body of ltheabutment' plate `I5,'whereby fastening nails 2|] Inay'be'drive'ntherethrough and into the Walers I3,to thereby retain the-,abutmentplate in fixed assembled relation tothe latter. Therabutmentplateniay-be suitablyV reenforced and stiiened by reenforcing ribs 2Iextending from the boss or hub I6 over and Iintegralwith the outlyingareas of theV plate body. Cooperative-Withfsaid abutment plate I5 is acombined .tie-rod manipulating and form wall'retain'ng means, the samecomprising an elongated body 22 having an axial bore'23 extendingtherethrough from` end to end thereof, through which .the exteriorlyprojecting end of the tie-rod I4 may pass. inner'end of said body 22, asYan integral part thereof,is a. substantially Vsemi-,spherical bearingelement 24 which fits into an is Vembraced Vby 'the socket. or. seat I'Iof said'abutment plate I5 so as to beV capable of Yboth rotation thereinas well asV angular vadjustment thereto. ,Preferably the 'bearing faceof this bearing element 24 is provided with one or more annularconcentric channels 25, which reduce the area of the contacting surfacesof said bearing face with those of the socket or seat II wherebyfriction consequent upon movement of the one relative to the other isminimized. Said'bearing element 24 is of greater Ydiameter than thediameter of `the body 22,-thus forming at the juncture of these partsanannular shoulder 26. vIt is preferable to-couple the abutment plate I5and body 22 against separation one from the otherbut nevertheless inVsuch manner that the latter is free for rotary 'and This; isVaccomplished byproviding, Vintegral Ywith the angularV movement-relativeto the former.

periphery of the end portion of the boss or` hub I6, aplurality of'circumferentially spaced cou-` pling" lugs or tongues 21, the free vendportions of Which'are bent inwardly around the shoulder V26 and thusinto embracing relation to the bear- -ing element 24 of said body 22.Intermediate its ends,'saidrbody 22 is provided with laterallyprojecting kinternally threaded necks 28 `which respectivelyextendiromopposte sides Ythereof in aligned relation one Vto the other.Engaged through `said necks'are manipulatable set screws 29 whichare'opposed one to -the otherfso asto enter opposite sides of thebore 24of the bodyKY 22, :#The outer, endrportion of YVt 1'1erbody,22 is4Formed at the Y its length. The body 22 affixed tothe end of the wrenchor like tool may'beapplied thereto for turning the same and thus impartturning or twisting motionto a tie-rod' I4 to which the body Y `22 issecured. YThe body 22 is strongly affixed toY one end of the tie-rod I4,which extends thereshaped to provide a polygonal `head 30 to furnishwrench or like tool engageable faces, whereby av Cil' through', bytightening home the opposed set'` screws 29, which also serve to centerthe tie-rod so that y the saine and the body 20 are substantiallyconcentric'.

VMounted onV the opposite end portion I4 ofi the tie-rod I4, whichprojects exteriorly'from thev opposite form wall II, isajretaining meansof` the same-form and construction as has beenH 'above described, thedetail parts of which are identified in the drawing by correspondingreference letters. to the tie-rod end portionVY 14", the abutment platekI5 is disposed parallelto the walers I3', so'

In applying such retaining means that its ends abut wedgemembersy-SLVwhlch are interposed between these parts, whereupon the body22 is strongly aflixed to the tie-rod endpor-A tion I4 by tighteninghome the opposedv set screws thereof.

Y To lock the form up tightly so as to hold theV assembled elementsthereof from yielding or displacement when concrete is cast into theform1 interior, the wedge members 3 I` are Vdriven tightlyV` throughout itslength. After theform has beenY thus set up, it vwillbe obvious that allrelative movement ofthe form parts and Aretaining devices in thedirection Vof the longitudinal axisofV the tie-rodis prevented, whileneverthelessV the bodies 22 of the Vopposite retaining means, and

the tie-rod to which theyareaixed, are subject to rotation relative tothe abutmentVV plates I5 and form wall structures abutted by the latter.j

When the form is assembled, as above de scribed, the concrete is pouredthereinto. the poured concrete has set to somewhatrsolidl'- fiedcondition, but'beforeitV has finally agedtovultimate dry hardenedcondition'y Yin ,other Words, Vwhile it is still somewhat green, thetie-rods `I4 are Vrotated or twisted. This is done by application cfawrench'to the polygonal head30 of either one or-the other of the bodies.2201 the retaining means with which the exteriorly projecting endportions thereof are provided;` whereupon,Y by

means oifleverageY exerted upon manipulation of After the wrench; thebody 22 may be turned or twisted back and forth, thusturning oroscillating the tie-rod -I4 aboutV its longitudinal, axis throughouttie-rod opposite to that towhich the turning force is thus applied, isfree to turn with the tie-rod and4 relativeto' the abutmentpplate withwhich such body is associated. ',Owing; to the provision ofthesemi-spherical bearingV e1ements`24 .as roltatably supported bythe'sockets orseats of the e abutment plates` I5, the r r taryymovements are maintained concentric to the axis ofthetie-rod,l

Y and consequently no bending or. distortion of tl'lel latter occurs.This turning of the tie-rod I4 is accomplished without in any wayrelaxing the form structure or dismantling or removing any part thereof,and therefore is performed while the form rem-ains in initial supportingand holding relation to the concrete cast therein, and consequently norisk of injury or damage to the concrete casting occurs. The turning ofthe tie-rod under the -specified conditions, thoroughly loosens the samein the body of the cast concrete mass, and eliminates any adhesion ofthe concrete materi-al to those surfaces of the tie-rod in contacttherewith. The tie-rods having been loosened in the manner described,the form is retained in operative assembled relation to the concretecast therein until the latter drys out and hardens to a condition inwhich the same is self-sustaining, whereupon the form is dismantled.

To dismantle the form, the bodies 22 of the retaining means aredisengaged from operative affixed relation to the tie-rod end portionsby relaxing the set-screws 29, and by removing the nails 20 the abutmentplates I5 are released from afxed relation to the form wall walers,whereupon the retaining means may be slid outwardly off of the tie-rodend portions. rI'he retaining means being thus removed, the form wallstruct tures may thereupon be stripped from the sides of the concretecasting, leaving the tie-rods I4 exposed for extraction, or the tie-rodsmay be withdrawn before stripping away the form wall structures. Owingto the fact that the tie-rods have been thoroughly loosened from anyadhesion to the concrete mass, by the turning or twisting operationsabove described, the same may be easily pulled longitudinally outw-ardfrom the concrete and thus withdrawn therefrom without risk ofdistortion or breakage, and consequently wh-en so withdrawn, the sameare salvaged in good condition subject to reuse in further or other formbuilding operations. In many c-ases the tie-rods may be thus extractedby hand, but there are many known forms of tie-rod extracting toolswhich may be utilized, if desired, in aid of such tie-rod extractingoperations.

In Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, I have shown a modied construction ofretaining means which can be used in accordance with the principles ofthis invention, the modication consisting in eliminating the set screwarrangement for afxing the means to a tie-rod end portion, and in makingthe outer end portion of the body 22 in separable clamp sections,comprising one clamp-section 32 integral with the body 22 and the otherclamp-section 33 separably opposed to said first mentionedclamp-section. The respective clamp sections are provided withoppositely and laterally projected perforate ears or lugs 34 and 35which are opposed, when the clamp-sections are assembled about thetie-rod end portion, so that bolts 36 may be engaged therethrough todraw the clamp sections together into biting and holding relation to thetie-rod end porion. If desired, a set screw 31 may also be provided forsetting the retaining means in desired location on the tie-rod pendingfinal tightening up of the clamp-sections. In other features ofconstruction, the modied form of retaining means is the same Vas alreadydescribed in connection with the rst mentioned form thereof, as will beunderstood by reason of the application thereto of correspondingreference characters.

In Fig. l I have shown a` further modied form of the retaining means asadapted for coupled association with a wedge device 38. The modicationin this case resides in the abutment plate, which is eliminated and inplace thereof a socketed element 39, adapted to receive the bearingelement 24 of the body 22, is movably coupled to the wedge device 3B, toslide upon the outer face of the latter, by means of coupling lugs 40,which are in-turned around marginal flanges 4i with which the outer faceportion of the wedge device 38 is provided.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

l. A concrete casting form comprising opposed form wall structures, around tie-rod in one continuous piece extending through the form withlits end portions respectively projecting outwardly from said form wallstructures, form retaining means on the respective exteriorly projectingend portions of said tie-rod, said retaining means each comprising aportion stationary in relation to the adjacent form wall structure and abody portion rotatable in relation to said stationary portion,cooperative ball and socket bearing means between said rotatable andstation-ary portions, said rotatable portions having wrench receivingmeans, means for aiTixing the rotatable portions to said tie-rod endportions and substantially concentric to the longitudinal axis of thetie-rod, whereby, while the form is locked up in supporting relation tothe concrete mass cast therein and before said mass sets to hardened drycondition, rotative force applied to a rotatable portion is transmittedto said tie-rod to turn the same relative to the cast concrete withoutaccompanying longitudinal movement to thereby loosen ,the same for easywithdrawal from the latter upc-n dismantling the form.

2. A concrete casting form as defined in claim 1 wherein locking wedgemeans is interposed between the stationary portion of `a retaining meansat one end of the tie-rod and the -adjacent form wall structure, saidstationary portion being adapted, by functioning of the ball and socketbearing means, to adjust itself angularly to the associated rotatableportion without disturbing the alignment of the latter to and upon thetierod or bending the latter, and means for coupling the wedge means innon-separable relation to said stationary portion yet free to moverelative thereto.

SAMUEL S. COLT.

